MPs condemn Pawar attack; warn UPA on price rise

New Delhi: Union Minister and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar was slapped at a government function in Delhi on Thursday. Even though the Opposition slammed the incident, they said the common man is concerned about price rise.

Leaders across party lines have condemned the incident, saying everyone is concerned about price rise but violence is unacceptable.

Leaders across party lines have condemned the incident, saying everyone is concerned about price rise but violence is unacceptable.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee condemned the attack. "We condemn the attack on Sharad Pawar. The incident is most unfortunate, don't know where the country is going," said Mukherjee.

Several MPs also criticised the attack on Pawar even though they said that price rise was a burning issue facing the common man.

"We have just been told that Sharad Pawar has been assaulted over price rise and the government says that prices have come down," BJP MP SS Ahluwalia said in the Rajya Sabha.

"Such kind of violent actions will not be tolerated," another BJP MP Smriti Irani said.

"Whatever has happened is wrong. Everybody is concerned about price rise. I am not in favour of violence," said Samajwadi Party MP Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The attacker Harvinder Singh said he was angry with the Union Agriculture Minister over rising prices and corruption in the government. The man was later arrested. Singh also claimed he was the one who attacked former telecom minister Sukhram in Rohini last week.